hidup bahagia - Bridge to Balance project

new in 2006/2007: US$ 24,000

introduction

Hidup bahagia is an Indonesian phrase implying happiness in life.  The English title chosen is Bridge to Balance to reinforce the positive outcomes for the project.

The objective of this project's first phase was to support establishment and maintenance of 3 pilot Family Crisis and Outreach Centres for suicide prevention and counselling, in Buleleng, Karangasem and Denpasar.

This project conformed to recommended service priorities of Rotary International Menu of Service Opportunities in the areas of Health Care and also Poverty and Hunger.

Suicides have nearly trebled in Bali since the 2002 bombing:
 

Of these, 75 percent are male, and the vast majority is over 25 years old.  Some 85 percent are Hindu. This is a demographic of people with primary responsibility of supporting their families - but their efforts are in vain and the economic outlook is bleak/desperate.

some life in Bali is extremely difficult

According to World Bank and UN research, some 80 percent of Bali’s economy is dependent on tourism.  Since the first major bombing in Bali in 2002 when 202 people died, Bali has since suffered from a further bombing in 2005, SARS concerns in 2004 and bird flue outbreaks in nearby Java during 2005-2006, to cause a significant downturn in tourism.  The resultant economic distress appears to be the primary driver of the increased rate of suicide, based on interviews with families and friends of the deceased.

The three pilot locations were chosen because they represent approximately 55 percent of all suicides and attempted suicides in the 10 major districts/ Regencies.

public awareness workshop in Singaraja, North Bali

Project Phases

The long term objective of the project was to develop the centres in three phases.  This proposal deals specifically with Phase 1, and other phases will only be proposed in detail later should Phase 1 prove effective.  However, Phase 1 needs to be assessed in terms of its place in the overall strategy of project development.

1.      Phase 1.  Awareness building and education are two key components of this stage of the project.  This Phase provided the following:

a.      Proactive outreach program in 2 of the 3 pilot regencies/districts, taking education and counselling material out to villages. This work will be undertaken by psychiatrists and senior trained volunteers. Already over 600 people have attended workshops conducted by Dr Suryani.

b.      Counselling and support services via two pilot Family Crisis/Outreach Centres and will focus on providing emotional and psycho-social support.  Each centre will include visits from a qualified psychiatrist and 4 trained volunteers to provide 24/7 phone and walk-in counselling support
Local education and workshops will also be provided by the three psychologists.

c.      Statistical quantitative and qualitative data gathered and analysed as input for Phases 2 and 3. 

d.      Planning and preparation for Phase 2, the dissemination of practical family economic training and family management practices, including in-take, needs assessment, etc. 

The planned project  duration of 8 months (2 months setup, 6 months operation) will provide sufficient time to assess impacts and need for additional expansion in locations and capability.
The target is to use quantitative and qualitative data from the first 3 months of pilot operation to devise and test primary causes during the second 3 month period.

2.      Phase 2.  Family economic training and management practices will be implemented in Phase 2.  This Phase will add Family Growth Centres, and will implement practical economic programs for families and communities to help mitigate the need for suicidal responses, creating human assets rather than human liabilities.

3.      Phase 3 will support development of entrepreneurial and trade skills that will provide funding to make the centres self-sufficient, and provide a viable exit strategy from Rotary involvement.

Centres in other regencies can be added once the pilot is proven successful.

Centres will be established only with support from Regency and villages, including in-kind support such as furnished office space and maintenance of same.

public awareness seminar in Denpasar

Expected Impact

In addition to humanistic concerns of the individuals involved and the rending of social fabric, there are real economic costs to loss of life.  Planned project outcomes are designed to address both social and economic issues as follows:

1. Reduction in achieved and attempted suicides in the pilot areas.
2. Improved basic family economic management practices.
3. Increased knowledge of the causes of severe depression that will help families and communities identify and prevent potential suicides.
4. Increased family and community compassion.

Project Management

The centres and field work will be under the management control of Ibu Dr Luh Ketut Suryani, Balinese Psychologist.  Dr Suryani will manage the operational and administrative functions of the project.

Rotary Club of Ubud Bali will provide administrative oversight and contribute to project strategies.

Budget Summary

Major costs of this project (80%) are for qualified and responsive staff in what will be a high-stress occupation. 

Tax Deductions (US)

Donations by US taxpayers are deductible to the fullest extent permissible under section 501C of the IRS code.